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Sinn Féin spokesperson on the Irish language Peadar Tóibín TD has expressed his dismay at Bank of Ireland’s decision to remove the Irish language option from ATMs.

Teachta Tóibín said:

“The removal of the Irish language from Bank of Ireland ATMs is a backward step and a denigration of Irish language rights. The banking sector in Ireland has been extremely poor in facilitating Irish language speakers in the use of the Irish language. It is impossible to get statements, online banking or any customer service in Irish anywhere.

“Bank of Ireland have been unique in making an effort to simply facilitate the Irish language with the provision of ATMs with an Irish option.

"This cost, little if anything, met the needs of thousands of customers and allowed the bank to show that it values a key element of our identity.

“However, in a very disappointing move its seems that the Bank is rowing back on this small but valued option. There is a serious lack of consideration regarding the Irish language and Irish language rights amongst the private sector which is unacceptable.

"It’ is well known that the provision of Irish in branding, marketing and customer service is good for business, with even those without the use of the language appreciating when Irish is valued by private sector business. By this move Bank of Ireland is devaluing the Irish language.

"Is this service going to be still available in Gaeltacht areas, or Gaeltacht service towns such as Galway? This is eroding the efforts of the community as well as the government to encourage the daily use of the Irish language both in the Gaeltacht and across the State.

"Banks have been beset by many catastrophic problems in the last decade. The citizens of this state have been forced to come to their rescue. The very least that they could do is include in their corporate responsibility the option of communicating with their customers in this cost free manner the national language of their choice.

"As Cathaoirleach of An Euro Gaelach I am calling on people to lodge their dissatisfaction with this decision and join a picket on their local branch on Friday the 1st of September between 1:30pm and 2:30pm."